0120091294
06-11-2010
Constuella R. Cuffie, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service (Capital Metro Area), Agency.
Constuella R. Cuffie,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service
(Capital Metro Area),
Agency.
Appeal No. 0120091294
Agency No. 1K-204-0027-08
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the agency's
decision dated January 5, 2009, dismissing her complaint of unlawful
employment discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq. In her
complaint, complainant alleged that she was subjected to discrimination
on the basis of age (43) when, on July 1 -7, 2008, she was denied pay
for 32 hours of sick leave and 8 hours of holiday pay.
BACKGROUND
The record reveals that complainant, a Supervisor at the Capitol Heights
facility in Maryland, received a Notice of Right to File Individual
Complaint from the agency on November 18, 2008. Complainant signed
and returned this form to the agency on December 4, 2008. The agency
notified her that she had failed to include the Formal Complaint form.
Therefore, on December 4, 2008, the agency sent complainant a letter
indicating that she had 15 calendar days from the receipt of the letter
to provide the signed copy of the Formal Complaint. The agency received
complainant's completed forms on December 15, 2008. Thereafter, the
agency dismissed complainant's complaint indicating that complainant's
formal complaint was one day untimely.
ANAYLYSIS AND FINDINGS
Where, as here, there is an issue of timeliness, "[a]n agency always bears
the burden of obtaining sufficient information to support a reasoned
determination as to timeliness." Guy, v. Department of Energy, EEOC
Request No. 05930703 (January 4, 1994) (quoting Williams v. Department of
Defense, EEOC Request No. 05920506 (August 25, 1992)). In addition, in
Ericson v. Department of the Army, EEOC Request No. 05920623 (January 14,
1993), the Commission stated that "the agency has the burden of providing
evidence and/or proof to support its final decisions." See also Gens
v. Department of Defense, EEOC Request No. 05910837 (January 31, 1992).
In the instant complaint, the Commission finds that the letter sent
to complainant granting her 15 days to provide her Formal Complaint
negates the Formal Complaint deadline. We find that it is reasonable
for complainant to have relied on the agency's letter, which extended
the due date. Further, we find that the record reveals that the agency
itself has committed at least two errors with regard to the due date of
the Formal Complaint, and at least one error with regard to the reason
for the dismissal of the complaint. Based on the foregoing, we find that
the agency erred when it dismissed complainant's complaint for untimely
filing.
CONCLUSION
Accordingly, the agency's decision to dismiss the instant complaint was
improper and is REVERSED. The complaint is REMANDED to the agency for
further processing in accordance with the ORDER below.
ORDER (E0408)
The agency is ordered to process the remanded claims in accordance with
29 C.F.R. � 1614.108. The agency shall acknowledge to the complainant
that it has received the remanded claims within thirty (30) calendar
days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency shall issue
to complainant a copy of the investigative file and also shall notify
complainant of the appropriate rights within one hundred fifty (150)
calendar days of the date this decision becomes final, unless the matter
is otherwise resolved prior to that time. If the complainant requests a
final decision without a hearing, the agency shall issue a final decision
within sixty (60) days of receipt of complainant's request.
A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to complainant and a
copy of the notice that transmits the investigative file and notice of
rights must be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced below.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K1208)
Compliance with the Commission's corrective action is mandatory.
The agency shall submit its compliance report within thirty (30) calendar
days of the completion of all ordered corrective action. The report shall
be submitted to the Compliance Officer, Office of Federal Operations,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 77960, Washington,
DC 20013. The agency's report must contain supporting documentation,
and the agency must send a copy of all submissions to the complainant.
If the agency does not comply with the Commission's order, the complainant
may petition the Commission for enforcement of the order. 29 C.F.R. �
1614.503(a). The complainant also has the right to file a civil action
to enforce compliance with the Commission's order prior to or following
an administrative petition for enforcement. See 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407,
1614.408, and 29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(g). Alternatively, the complainant
has the right to file a civil action on the underlying complaint in
accordance with the paragraph below entitled "Right to File A Civil
Action." 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407 and 1614.408. A civil action for
enforcement or a civil action on the underlying complaint is subject
to the deadline stated in 42 U.S.C. 2000e-16(c) (1994 & Supp. IV 1999).
If the complainant files a civil action, the administrative processing of
the complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated.
See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M1208)
The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this
case if the complainant or the agency submits a written request containing
arguments or evidence which tend to establish that:
1. The appellate decision involved a clearly erroneous interpretation
of material fact or law; or
2. The appellate decision will have a substantial impact on the
policies, practices, or operations of the agency.
Requests to reconsider, with supporting statement or brief, must be filed
with the Office of Federal Operations (OFO) within thirty (30) calendar
days of receipt of this decision or within twenty (20) calendar days of
receipt of another party's timely request for reconsideration. See 29
C.F.R. � 1614.405; Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for
29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110), 9-18 (November 9, 1999). All requests
and arguments must be submitted to the Director, Office of Federal
Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 77960,
Washington, DC 20013. In the absence of a legible postmark, the request
to reconsider shall be deemed timely filed if it is received by mail
within five days of the expiration of the applicable filing period.
See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.604. The request or opposition must also include
proof of service on the other party.
Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your
request for reconsideration as untimely, unless extenuating circumstances
prevented the timely filing of the request. Any supporting documentation
must be submitted with your request for reconsideration. The Commission
will consider requests for reconsideration filed after the deadline only
in very limited circumstances. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.604(c).
COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0408)
This is a decision requiring the agency to continue its administrative
processing of your complaint. However, if you wish to file a civil
action, you have the right to file such action in an appropriate United
States District Court within ninety (90) calendar days from the date
that you receive this decision. In the alternative, you may file a
civil action after one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days of the date
you filed your complaint with the agency, or filed your appeal with the
Commission. If you file a civil action, you must name as the defendant
in the complaint the person who is the official agency head or department
head, identifying that person by his or her full name and official title.
Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of your case in court.
"Agency" or "department" means the national organization, and not the
local office, facility or department in which you work. Filing a civil
action will terminate the administrative processing of your complaint.
RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z1008)
If you decide to file a civil action, and if you do not have or cannot
afford the services of an attorney, you may request from the Court that
the Court appoint an attorney to represent you and that the Court also
permit you to file the action without payment of fees, costs, or other
security. See Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended,
42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq.; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended,
29 U.S.C. �� 791, 794(c). The grant or denial of the request is within
the sole discretion of the Court. Filing a request for an attorney with
the Court does not extend your time in which to file a civil action.
Both the request and the civil action must be filed within the time
limits as stated in the paragraph above ("Right to File a Civil Action").
FOR THE COMMISSION:
______________________________
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations
June 11, 2010
Date
2
0120091294
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013
2
0120091294